Interchangeable character sign



April 19, 1932. J w pmc 1,854,381

INTERCHANGEABLE CHARACTER SIGN Filed Jan. 26, 1931 fi z. 5y. 3. 5 .4. 5 .5 a; 6. 5 .7 /-7 .5,

g l m 4/ grime/141 M I v JOMesM/ r w. H 9. E1910. 15m. 5 /2 6m Patented Apr. 19, 1832 rr STATE-S.

, JAMES W. PRICE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA INTERCHANGEABLE CHARACTER SIGN Application filed January 26, 1931.

This invention relates to an interchangeable character sign and has for an object to provide an improved sign made of various elements that may be easily and quickly assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved sign that may be economically manufactured and sold at low cost.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sign made up of one or more in terchangeable character elements and sup porting elements, all of which may be joined together without the use of tools.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a character element which will transmit light therethrough.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a character element made of a metal member having a character punched or cut therethrough, and a light transmitting backing easily securable on character element, which light transmitting element may be variously colored on the different character elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interchangeable character sign which may be used as house numbers, grocery, restaurant or other signs, and which, when placed between a source of illumination, as a porch or window electric light, and an ob server, will stand out quite prominently.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention comprises the following con- 5 structions, combinations and arrangements of parts set forth and disclosed in the following specification within the scope of what is claimed and their equivalents and illustrated on the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Figure 1 shows a plan view of an interchangeable character sign with two characters and the supporting means.

Figure 2 is a front View of a female supporting element.

Figure 3 is an edge view of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of a detached character element.

Figure 5 is an edge view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a back View of Figure 4.

Serial No. 511,374.

I Figure 7 is an edge view of a male supporting element.

Figure 8 is a front view of Figure 7. Figure 9 is a front View of the spacing element. 7

Figure 10 is an edge View of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a back view of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a front view of a supplementary supporting element, and

Figure 13 is an edge view of Figure 12.

There is shown at 15 in Figure 1 an interchangeable character sign made up according to this invention for use as a house number 71. This sign comprises the character elements 16, the female supporting element 17 and the male supporting element 18.

' Each character element 16'is made up as more particularly in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is formed of a metal member 19 in which is cut or punched a character 20, either a letter, punctuation mark or numeral, and in these Figures 4, v5 and 6 the character is the letter L. Each character will preferably have a light transmitting backing element 21 which may be transparent, as is the backing element behind the character 7 and the character L, and is colored and translucent as at 22 behind the character 1. Each character element has an upper flange 23 and a lower flange 24 which is bent over as shown to receive and hold the light transmitting backing 21, which backing may be of plain or frosted glass, plain or colored celluloid, or the like. Each flange is cut away or recessed at its entrance side for the backing element as at 26, thus making it easy to introduce the backing element behind the flanges, which are some What springy. Each backing element has a vertical female joining edge 27 and a male joining edge 28, the female joining edge 27 having an upper and a lower bent over flange 29 which is cut away or recessed as at 30.

The female supporting element 17 has an: identical female joining edge 31 with upper and lower flanges 32, while the male supporting element 18 has a vertical male joining edge 33 identical with the male joining edge 28 of the character elements. The opposite unused edges of the male and female supporting elements may be decoratively cut as at 84.

III

. of a number of words.

In Figures 12 and 13 there is shown a supplementary support or hanger 39 comprising a body portion 40, a lower bent over and forward carrying flange 41 and an upper-projection 42 having a hole 43 therethrough. This upper projection is bent forward into the plane of the forward portion ofzthe lower carrying flange.

Inoperation, the sign will be procurable in the separate elements, and if used .as a house number, only the'necessary characters and supporting elements need bepurchased. The house number 71 for instance, requires only the purpose of the two characters 7 and 1 and the two female and male supporting elements 17 and 1-8. The male joiningedge of each element is then inserted into the female joining edge of the adjoining element,:and the sign iscomplete and readyto be secured in position by .means of the projections 35. By placing the signin such a position that a source of light is behind'it, it will stand out-quite prominently. Thus, the assembled sign maybe nailed to'the roof of a porch so as to depend therefrom, and the porch light shining through the characters .20 and the backing elements .21 will make the sign easily readable from a distance. Furthermore, the backing elements 21 maybe differently colored, as at 22, thus increasing theprominence and the attractiveness of the s gn.

This sign is not only intended for house numbers,but will have-a.multitude of other uses, and by interjoining the spacing elements 37, a long sign made up ofmany characters may be formed, and can be used to denotethe residence of a doctor, or used in merchant or restaurant windows. When used in merchant or restaurant windows or elsewhere, their easy interchangeability is of great value, as different specials can headvertised each day. The supplementary supportAO is intended for use when a long word is'used, which could not be supported by the supporting elements 17 and 18 or the spacing elements 37 which also serve as supporting elements. In the latter case, the carrying flange 41 is placed under the sign and drawn up until the body 10 comes behind the sign, whereupon the supporting projection 12 will come forward into the same plane as the other supporting projections 35 and 38, so

that it may be secured tothe same supporting IHBELDS.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES W. PRICE.

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